It’s tempting, I know. Anyway, like to think I do. In truth, like to imagine I do.

All that money. All that fame. The big stage. The biggest lights.

It calls loudly to USC quarterback Mark Sanchez, and I say … turn it down.

Come back for your senior season. Play your final year for the Trojans.

Now this goes against my normal instincts. Usually a young man has an opportunity to make millions, I say take it and run as fast and long as you can.

It was the advice offered to quarterback Matt Leinart in 2005 after he had won the Heisman Trophy and led USC to the national championship.

Leinart would have gone No.1 overall to the San Francisco 49ers that year. It screamed perfect opportunity. Leaving and arriving on top.

Instead, Leinart elected to dance his way to a final college year. The 49ers ended up taking Utah quarterback Alex Smith No.1, which ended up badly for both the 49ers, and as a pro, Leinart.

The next year he was drafted 10th by the Arizona Cardinals. That drop cost Leinart at least $10 million. It was money never to be regained.

So maybe you see some inconsistency here, advising Leinart to make the early exit and Sanchez to stick around.

Yet despite several similarities, there are significant differences in their situations.

Sanchez said he is evaluating the situation and has until Jan.15 to declare for the draft. He has asked the NFL for a review of his draft status and is awaiting the results.

But unless it says he’ll be a top-five pick, he would be better served to return next season.

It is not some clear-cut decision. Not without risks and uncertainties.

Still, the upside appears more than seductive. There is a practical element here, a logic that needs to be absorbed.

Sanchez raised his public and NFL stock with a dazzling display in USC’s 38-24 Rose Bowl victory over Penn State. Throwing for more than 400 yards in the biggest New Year’s Day game can do that.

This capped a very nice year for Sanchez, but in truth, 2008 was something less than spectacular. It had many more ups than downs, but was uneven. Felt a lot like an excellent beginning.

This was the first year Sanchez was named USC’s starting quarterback. He started three games for the injured John David Booty in 2007, but otherwise has just this one season as a starting quarterback.

There is no question he has NFL tools. He has the frame (6-3, 225), the feet, and a stronger arm than Leinart. Throw in his leading-man looks and he seems a natural. His ultimate destination is clear.

But he still has plenty of room for improvement at the college level.

Unlike Leinart, he can clearly improve with another year’s experience. Another season can elevate his current draft standing.

And it can’t hurt his personal prospectus that next year USC can return 10 of its 11 offensive starters. The Trojans figure to operate one of the country’s finest offenses. Sanchez could put up some spectacular numbers.

Numbers that would make him only more appealing to NFL general managers, who want the tools and the charisma a major quarterback can bring.

Quarterback remains one of the most difficult positions for NFL scouts to evaluate. No.1 Smith has been a bust at San Francisco, though No.24 pick Aaron Rodgers is working out well for Green Bay.

Taking a quarterback high makes teams nervous, yet no position is more important. The winless Detroit Lions need a new signal caller, and if Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford comes out, he’s expected to go No.1 overall in April.

Many current mock drafts have Bradford and Stafford being taken ahead of Sanchez. ESPN.com rates Sanchez the No.15 college player overall. One Scout.com analyst, however, has Sanchez going No.4 to the team that missed out on Leinart – the 49ers.

Sanchez is wise to gather all the information he can. To listen to his family, and certainly, head coach Pete Carroll.

Leaving holds a great allure, but a year from now it could be all the sweeter.

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.